Ivory sandaled foot

Art Historical Context

This delicate ivory carving of a sandaled foot dates to the early years of the Roman Empire, around 31 BCE–14 CE, during the reign of Emperor Augustus. Created in a period when Roman art blended Greek classical ideals with imperial symbolism, the fragment likely formed part of a larger composite statue, furniture inlay, or luxurious decorative object. Its small scale—measuring just over five inches long—suggests it was designed for intimate viewing, perhaps in a private home or temple setting. Ivory was a prized material in the Roman world, imported at great expense and valued for its smooth ...